How to Handle a Cold as a Breastfeeding or Pregnant Mom
On May 21, 2021 by Megan FolsomThis past week, our whole family was hit with the common head cold. Luckily for my husband, he could take all of the medicines he wanted to make it through and function better.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have that same experience. Because I’m still breastfeeding, there are a lot of medications that I can’t take. If you’re sick while pregnant or breastfeeding, I feel for you.
Luckily, I made it through okay and am feeling much better. A lot of that had to do with the sick routine I created myself using products that are pregnancy-safe and safe for breastfeeding moms.
*Obviously, if there is anything you are unsure or don’t know about, be sure to check with your doctor. Please don’t take my article as medical advice, and always consult a doctor with any questions!
Sick Mom Must-Haves:
Throat Coat Tea (with honey added)
This is my go-to tea when I have a sore throat. It’s made of slippery elm bark, licorice root, and marshmallow root.
Also, I usually add honey to this one, both as a natural sweetener and as another health benefit. If my baby is under one, I avoid raw honey. Now that my son is almost two, I’m not as cautious about the type of honey.
Honey is known to be high in antioxidants, and suppress cough in adults and children. One study even found that honey reduced cough symptoms and improved sleep more than regular cough and cold medicine.
LiquidIV
During the day, I always make sure to have a full LiquidIV, especially if I’m feeling sick. I know my body needs the extra hydration and all of the added vitamins to help fight the illness.
If you didn’t know, Liquid IV gives your more 2 to 3x more hydration than plain water and has 3x the electrolytes of sports drinks. Plus, it’s packed full of 5 essential vitamins (B3, B5, B6, B12 and Vitamin C).
Luckily, I’ve snagged a discount code for you. Be sure to use code megan.folsom to get 25% off your entire order and free shipping, as many times as you’d like!
Emergen-C
This one is a MUST for me. If I even start to feel the slightest bit off or am in close quarters with someone who is sick, Emergen-C is my go-to.
Breastfeeding or not, I take it at the first sign of a cold and continue to drink one a day until I feel completely back to normal. Personally, my favorite flavor is the pink lemonade (linked below).
Cough Drops
This is another one that I use while breastfeeding or not. I tend to have a lingering cough after any cold, probably thanks to my asthma. We always have cough drops on hand in our medicine cabinet.
Plus, if you’re breastfeeding, you probably have young kids… and there’s nothing worse than having an itch in your throat and trying not to cough and wake them up!
Unisom
Unfortunately, there are so many medicines that you can’t take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Fortunately, you CAN take the version of Unisom that has Doxylamine Succinate as the active ingredient.
My doctor actually prescribed it for me to help with sleep and nausea while I was pregnant. It has some of the benefit of Nyquil without all of the other active ingredients.
When I take Unisom, I usually only take about one half or one third of a pill for a cold. That way, I have an easier time sleeping through the night when I’m congested or tossing and turning a lot.
Extra Sleep
The best way for your body to fight off your cold or virus is to rest. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done, but in my experience, it truly helps me heal faster! I’m also better able to survive the sick days with a sick, grumpy toddler when I’ve got a good night’s sleep.
Extra Water
Did you know that staying super hydrated actually helps your body to relieve congestion and loosen up the mucus in your nose? (I know, sounds gross… but feels great haha.)
Plus, it reduces your risk of getting headaches from dehydration and helps your body keep functioning properly. If you have a fever with your cold, you’re probably also losing more fluids as your body sweats and tries to regulate your temperature. All around, drinking PLENTY of water will help you feel much better and heal more quickly.
Walks, Sun & Fresh Air
All three of these have definitely helped our whole family fight the cold. We have gone on a walk nightly and always feel better while we’re out and after coming back. It’s helped all of us feel so much better and our minds so much clearer after being out.
As a sick mom with a sick, fussy toddler, letting him play outside has been a lifesaver. While we were sick, he spent almost the whole weekend outside playing in the grass with the water hose. It gave me a break, distracted him from feeling so sick and cooped up, and gave us both some extra vitamin D.
If you’re struggling with a cold right now, I’m so sorry! Give these remedies and try and I hope you feel better soon!
RELATED POST: Sick baby must-haves
For my other favorite products and tons of discount codes, see my Favorites tab above.
*Disclaimer: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Sign-up for exclusive deals and more mom tips!